Michael writes: After viewing the Final of the 2012 Rip Curl Pro in Portugal, I have to ask the question: in the case of Brazilian surfer Gabriel Medina, is it a case of too much too soon?
There is no doubt that the young phenom has all the surfing talent to become a major driving force in professional surfing for many years to come. Gabriel’s above the lip surfing is second to none, with a very aesthetic approach, takeoff, landing (and everything in between) that is becoming the vanguard of modern aerial surfing. Gabriel has also proved himself more than competent in large powerful surf, with his surprisingly strong showing at the near out of control conditions experienced during the 2011 Billabong Pipe Masters, and then also making a strong statement with a solid 2nd place finish, in epic conditions, at this year’s return to Cloudbreak for the Volcom Fiji Pro event.
But with all the pressure of the Brazilian surf base focused squarely on Gabriel’s every ASP result, can he possibly possess the maturity and mental discipline to hold it all together at such a young age ?
